HOME DEPARTMENT

Civil Servants: Codes of Practice

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many investigations into breaches by civil servants of the Civil Service Code of Conduct occurred in her Department in each month from May 2010 to March 2012.

Damian Green: The Civil Service Code of Conduct is incorporated into the Home Office standards of conduct and the Department does not separately identify investigations into matters which relate to breaches of the Code. The total number of investigations into potential misconduct of all kinds by employees of the Home Office and its agencies between May 2010 and March 2012 was 560. These are broken down into the month they were commissioned in the table.
	The Civil Service Commission's annual report for 2010-11 sets out the number of approaches handled by the Commission for that reporting period:
	http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/downloads/annual-report/cs-annual-report10-11.pdf
	
		
			 Month Total 
			 May 2010 15 
			 June 2010 29 
			 July 2010 30 
			 August 2010 16 
			 September 2010 33 
			 October 2010 26 
			 November 2010 37 
			 December 2010 19 
			 January 2011 32 
			 February 2011 46 
			 March 2011 26 
			 April 2011 23 
			 May 2011 28 
			 June 2011 28 
			 July 2011 26 
			 August 2011 27 
			 September 2011 19 
			 October 2011 21 
			 November 2011 23 
			 December 2011 15 
			 January 2012 14 
			 February 2012 15 
			 March 2012 12

Crime

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what new criminal offences have been created in legislation since 2009.

Crispin Blunt: I am responding to this question as my Department is responsible for publishing an annual statistical bulletin providing figures for the numbers of criminal offences created in England and Wales. The first of these bulletins, covering the period 1 June 2009 to 31 May 2011, was published last December.
	The bulletin and associated information can be found on my Department's website at:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/statistics/criminal-justice/new-criminal-offences

Crime: Wales

Chris Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Wales on levels of crime in Wales.

Nick Herbert: As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government’s practice to provide details of meetings between Ministers.

Criminal Investigation

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the number of criminal investigations county and regional police forces will be required to carry out as a result of reductions in the funding of the Ministry of Defence police criminal investigations department; and if she will make a statement.

Nick Herbert: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to his question to the Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans, my right hon. Friend the Member for South Leicestershire (Mr Robathan), during Defence oral questions on 26 March 2012, Official Report, column 1154.
	The proposals to reprioritise the work of the MOD police’s criminal investigation department will now be subject to consultation with key partners, including officials in my Department.

Firearms: Licensing

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what discussions she has had with the British Association for Shooting and Conservation and Countryside Alliance Ireland on the cost of shotgun certificate fees;
	(2)  what the cost to the public purse of processing a firearms certificate is in England and Wales; and what the cost of obtaining such a certificate is.

Nick Herbert: Fees for firearms certificates are laid down in the Firearms Act 1968 and are set at £50 for the issue of a new certificate and £40 for a renewal. The cost to the public purse of processing those certificates is estimated by the ACPO Firearms and Explosives Licensing Working Group at being £189 for a new certificate and £106 for a renewal. Fee levels are currently under review and the British Association for Shooting and Conservation, through its membership of the British Shooting Sports Council, has been involved in the consultation process. The Countryside Alliance Ireland has not been involved as Northern Ireland has its own firearms certification system.

Police: Airwave Service

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her most recent assessment is of the requirements for the national police communications system following the end of the current contract in 2016.

Nick Herbert: The Government have initiated a joint development programme, on behalf of all the emergency services, to replace those communication services currently delivered under the Airwave Solutions Ltd contract. The programme is at an early stage and is in consultation with all stakeholders, including the police, to define their requirements.

Police: Income Tax

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  if she will estimate the number of police officers in each (a) region and (b) local authority area who will no longer be eligible to pay income tax following the increase in the personal allowance to £8,105 in April 2012;
	(2)  if she will estimate the number of police officers in each (a) region and (b) local authority area who will no longer be eligible to pay income tax once the income tax threshold is set at £10,000;
	(3)  if she will estimate the number of police officers who benefited from an increase in the personal allowance of income tax in 2011-12; and if she will estimate the likely number of police officers who will benefit from the increase in 2012-13.

Nick Herbert: The information requested is not available specifically in relation to police officers.

Prisoners: Repatriation

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Justice on procedures to ensure that EU citizens released on completion of custodial sentences are removed from the UK expeditiously; and if she will make a statement.

Damian Green: Home Office Ministers have meetings with a wide variety of partners, as well as organisations and individuals in the public and private sectors, as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings.

Suicides and Homicides

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) suicides and (b) homicides there were in each year for which data are available.

Nick Herbert: Data on suicides within the general population are not collected by the Home Office.
	Data on offences currently recorded as homicide are available for each year from 1967 to 2010/11 and are provided in Table A. These data are taken from the Homicide Index, a database separate to the main recorded crime dataset which contains detailed information about each homicide recorded by police in England and Wales. It is continually being updated with revised information from the police and the courts and, as such, is a richer source of data than the main recorded crime dataset.
	Data prior to 1967 are available from the main recorded crime collection at the following link. However, these data are as the police initially recorded the homicide and the figures do not take account of court outcomes unlike the Homicide Index.
	www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/science-research-statistics/research-statistics/crime-research/historical-crime-data/rec-crime-1898-2002
	
		
			 Table A :  Offences currently (1)  recorded by the police as homicide: England and Wales, 1967 to 2010-11 
			  Number of offences 
			 1967 354 
			 1968 360 
			 1969 332 
			 1970 339 
			 1971 407 
			 1972 409 
			 1973 391 
			 1974 526 
			 1975 443 
			 1976 488 
			 1977 413 
			 1978 468 
			 1979 547 
			 1980 535 
			 1981 501 
			 1982 557 
			 1983 482 
			 1984 537 
			 1985 536 
			 1986 563 
			 1987 600 
			 1988 547 
			 1989 521 
			 1990 554 
			 1991 622 
			 1992 581 
			 1993 566 
			 1994 633 
			 1995 662 
			 1996 536 
			 1997 608 
			 1997-98 604 
			 1998-99 640 
			 1999-2000 671 
			 2000-01 764 
			 2001-02 793 
			 2002-03 942 
			 2003-04 772 
			 2004-05 780 
			 2005-06 708 
			 2006-07 712 
			 2007-08 734 
			 2008-09 640 
			 2009-10 608 
			 2010-11 636 
			 (1) As at 18 October 2011; figures are subject to revision as cases are dealt with by the police and by the courts, or as further information becomes available.

UK Border Force

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what operational responsibilities she proposes will be shared between the National Border Command and the UK Border Force.

Damian Green: The Border Policing Command (BPC) (as part of the National Crime Agency—NCA) and Border Force will work closely together and will play vital roles in the Government's approach to delivering increased security at the border. Border Force will be responsible for entry controls and customs functions at the border. The Border Policing Command will take the lead in delivering better, more joined up enforcement activity across all agencies operating in and around the border, including Border Force.
	Border Force will be responsible for sharing intelligence with the BPC. This will enable the BPC to deliver a single, comprehensive picture of the threats to public safety and security at the border. The BPC will be responsible for tasking and co-ordinating Border Force assets (alongside wider NCA, UK Border Agency, law enforcement and other partner assets) to carry out separate or joint operations relating to border security.

HEALTH

Buildings

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department spent on works and refurbishment to offices allocated to Ministers in his Department's buildings in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) the latest date for which figures are available.

Simon Burns: The spend on works and refurbishment to offices allocated to Ministers in the Department's buildings has been £5,382 in 2010 and £12,746 in 2011. There has been no spend specifically on Ministers' offices in 2012, during the latest period for which figures are available. Comparable figures for previous calendar years were £31,887 in 2009 and £22,000 in 2008.

Christmas

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much (a) his Department and (b) its agencies have spent on Christmas (i) cards, (ii) parties and (iii) decorations in the last two years.

Simon Burns: Neither the Department nor its agency spent any money on Christmas cards, parties or decorations in the last two years.

Congenital Abnormalities

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to reduce the incidence of neural tube defects; and if he will make a statement.

Anne Milton: The Department of Health currently advises all women who are planning a pregnancy to take a daily supplement containing 400 micrograms of folic acid before conception and until the 12th week of pregnancy, as well as to increase their consumption of folate rich foods, to reduce the risk of a neural tube defect (NTD)-affected pregnancy.
	The Department promotes the importance of taking folic acid supplements for women of childbearing age and folate-rich foods in all relevant mainstream communications, such as the Pregnancy Book and the NHS Choices website, as well as a specific leaflet entitled ‘Folic acid: An essential ingredient for making healthy babies’.
	Fortification of foodstuffs with folic acid is a complicated issue, with a balance of benefits as well as potential risks. The Department was advised by the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) and the Food Standards Agency Board in 2007 on fortification options as a measure to reduce the risk of pregnancies being affected by NTDs. Additional advice on folic acid and cancer risk was requested by the then chief medical officer and provided by SACN in 2009.
	The papers underpinning the advice from SACN have not yet all been peer reviewed and published in a scientific journal. Ministers would like to see all information in the public domain before making any decision, and will then make a decision.

Medical Treatments: Research

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how much his Department spent on research into the treatment of (a) cystic fibrosis, (b) muscular dystrophy, (c) severe asthma, (d) primary ciliary dyskinesia and (e) other rare lung diseases in each of the last five years for which information is available;
	(2)  how much his Department spent on research into the treatment of respiratory diseases in each of the last five years for which information is available; how much his Department plans to spend in each of the next three years; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  how much his Department spent on paediatric respiratory research in each of the last five years; how much it plans to spend in each of the next two years; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  what recent representations he has received on funding for paediatric respiratory research; what response he gave; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: The Department has not received any recent representations specifically on funding for paediatric respiratory research.
	There was no expenditure in the last five years by the Department through research programmes, research centres and units, and research training awards on research on the treatment of primary ciliary dyskinesia or other rare lung diseases.
	Expenditure by the Department through research programmes, research centres and units, and research training awards on research on the treatment of cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy, and asthma (including severe asthma), on the treatment of respiratory diseases, and on paediatric respiratory diseases is shown in the following table.
	
		
			 £ million 
			  2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 
			 Cystic fibrosis (treatment) 0.1 0.2 0.8 1.8 3.4 
			 Muscular dystrophy (treatment) 0.0 0.5 1.0 0.9 1.0 
		
	
	
		
			 Asthma (treatment) 0.4 0.8 1.0 1.7 2.5 
			 Respiratory diseases, all (treatment) 1.7 2.8 4.7 9.1 12.3 
			 Paediatric respiratory diseases, all 0.1 0.5 1.2 1.6 2.4 
		
	
	Expenditure by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Clinical Research Network (CRN) on research on these topics cannot be disaggregated from total CRN expenditure.
	Prior to the establishment of the NIHR in April 2006, the main part of the Department's total health research expenditure was devolved to and managed by national health service organisations. From April 2006 to March 2009, transitional research funding was allocated to these organisations at reducing levels. The organisations have accounted for their use of the allocations they have received from the Department in an annual research and development report. The reports identify total, aggregated expenditure on some disease areas, but do not provide details of spend on research on the topics covered in this reply.
	Total spend in future years on research into the treatment of respiratory diseases and on paediatric respiratory research depends on the volume and quality of scientific activity. The usual practice of the NIHR is not to ring-fence funds for expenditure on particular topics: research proposals in all areas compete for the funding available. The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including respiratory disease. These applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the scientific quality of the proposals made.

Television

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many plasma screen televisions his Department purchased in each of the last two years; and what the cost was of purchasing and installing such televisions in each such year.

Simon Burns: The Department has purchased and installed five flat screen (plasma and liquid crystal display) televisions in the last two years, (2010-11 and 2011-12), costing a total of £2,002.00, with a further one on order. All of these were purchased due to the impending digital switchover in London.

Training

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much (a) his Department and (b) its agencies have spent on away days in the last 12 months; and what the (i) subject and (ii) location of each away day was.

Simon Burns: The Department and its agency, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), are committed to developing their staff and equipping them with the skills, knowledge and expertise they need to carry out their work roles effectively. Away days and team building events make a significant contribution to such development.
	For the core Department, away days and team building activities are typically arranged by individual teams. No central records of such events are held and extracting the requested data would incur disproportionate costs.
	The following table gives the available details for away days and related events held by the MHRA during the past 12 months.
	
		
			 Away Day Subject Location Cost (£) 
			 Management and Leadership Development—SDI Team Day Oxford Group, Agriculture House, 0X29 4TP 8,778.00 
			 Management training Radisson Edwardian Vanderbilt Hotel Not available 
			 Management and Leadership Development Day Oxford Group 4,866.70 
			 Management and Leadership HR Team Day Oxford Group 4,664.10 
			 Team Away Day Radisson Edwardian Vanderbilt Hotel 6,070.49 
			 Executive Board Away Day Academy of Medical Sciences 1,751.40 
			 IMD Management Team Meeting Radisson Edwardian Vanderbilt Hotel 280.00 
			 Management training Radisson Edwardian Vanderbilt Hotel 2,922.50

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Broadband

Simon Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport with reference to the 2012 Budget, what criteria he plans to use to allocate the additional funding for a second wave of 10 smaller super-connected cities.

Edward Vaizey: The Department will publish the eligibility criteria by the end of April 2012, including how funds will be allocated.

PRIME MINISTER

Official Hospitality

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Prime Minister on how many occasions he has entertained guests at (a) his Downing Street flat and (b) Chequers since May 2010; who the guests were; and for how many events the costs were met privately or by the Conservative Party.

David Cameron: The list of No. 10 receptions and functions held at Chequers paid for by the taxpayer for the year 2010-11 was published in July 2011 and is available on the Cabinet Office transparency website. Information for the year 2011-12 will be published as soon as it is ready at the end of the financial year. Separately, in my capacity as leader of the Conservative party, on 26 March this year I published details of my dinners with major political donors at Downing street and Chequers. In line with the practice of the previous Administration I am not planning to release details of other political events.

Official Hospitality

Nia Griffith: To ask the Prime Minister if he will publish a list of all those he has dined with in an official capacity since May 2010 who have business interests in Wales.

David Cameron: Details of hospitality I have received and my meetings with external organisations are published on a quarterly basis. Details can be accessed on the Cabinet Office website at:
	http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/content/ministers-transparency-publications

Peter Cruddas

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Prime Minister whether any officials or special advisers in 10 Downing Street have directed Ministers, officials or special advisers in government departments to meet (a) Peter Cruddas, (b) representatives of Peter Cruddas and (c) individuals suggested by Peter Cruddas.

David Cameron: No.

Peter Cruddas

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Prime Minister what discussions staff in 10 Downing Street have had with Peter Cruddas or his representatives since May 2010; who took part in any such discussions; and what their purpose was.

David Cameron: Staff in Downing street have not had official discussions with Peter Cruddas or his representatives.

Peter Cruddas

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Prime Minister on how many occasions Peter Cruddas has visited 10 Downing street on official business since May 2010; who he met; and what the purpose of each visit was.

David Cameron: I have not met Peter Cruddas on official business since May 2010. It is a matter of public record that I have met Peter Cruddas in my capacity as leader of the Conservative party.

Prime Minister's Policy Unit

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a list of meetings between members of the No 10 Policy Unit and external individuals, bodies and agencies since May 2010 with a description of the purpose of each meeting.

David Cameron: The Government publish information quarterly about Ministers' and Permanent Secretaries' meetings with external organisations. There are no plans to extend the list to encompass others below this level.

Sovereignty: Scotland

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Prime Minister whether he held meetings with Peter Cruddas to discuss plans for a referendum on independence for Scotland.

David Cameron: The Government have always said we want to give the Scottish Government, via Section 30, the powers to hold a legal referendum.
	We see no reason why this cannot be agreed between the UK and Scottish Governments as we have both stated publicly our preference for a single question referendum overseen by the Electoral Commission.
	We hope this can be quickly agreed once both consultations have closed.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Alcoholic Drinks

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the total spending on wine and other alcoholic beverages was by his Department in the last six months.

Owen Paterson: During the period 1 September 2011 to 29 February 2012, my Department spent £3,522 on wine and £537 on other alcoholic refreshments. Such expenditure relates solely to the hospitality costs incurred in the hosting, by Ministers, of receptions/events as part of their official duties.

Catering

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much his Department spent on complimentary refreshments for (a) staff and (b) visitors in the latest period for which figures are available.

Owen Paterson: My Department only provides complimentary refreshments at official meetings and functions which are attended by people external to the Department. This includes meetings hosted by Ministers, and functions that are attended by people from throughout the community in Northern Ireland. Officials may also be in attendance. For the 12-month period March 2011 to February 2012, the Northern Ireland Office spent £27,192 on complimentary refreshments.

Civil Servants: Codes of Practice

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many investigations into breaches by civil servants of the Civil Service Code of Conduct occurred in his Department in each month from May 2010 to March 2012.

Owen Paterson: There has been no requirement for my Department to investigate breaches of the Civil Service Code of Conduct during the period May 2010 to May 2012.

Email

John Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his policy is on the period for which emails sent and received by (a) Ministers, (b) officials and (c) special advisers in his Department are retained; and whether such emails are recoverable from the IT systems in his Department after that period.

Owen Paterson: The Northern Ireland Office policy for the retention of emails sent and received applies equally to Ministers, officials and special advisers. Emails are deleted from all accounts alter 90 days. Once deleted, these may be restored, if necessary, from the Department's backup system for a period of up to six months. Emails sent or received may, if required for business purposes, be saved for the record to the Department's electronic document records management system. The policy regarding emails remains exactly the same as it was under the previous Administration supported by the right hon. Gentleman.

Vodafone Group

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many contracts Vodafone has been awarded by his Department in the last 12 months.

Owen Paterson: My Department has awarded one contract to Vodafone in the last 12 months.

Vodafone Group

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what contracts his Department has with Vodafone.

Owen Paterson: The Northern Ireland Office has one contract with Vodafone which is for mobile telephone usage.

Vodafone Group

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many times the Permanent Secretary in his Department has met Vodafone representatives in the last 12 months.

Owen Paterson: There have been no meetings between the Director General of the Northern Ireland Office and Vodafone representatives in the last 12 months.

WALES

Commission On Devolution in Wales

Paul Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what meetings she has had with members of the Commission on Devolution in Wales; and for what reasons the Commission will report one year later than originally planned.

Cheryl Gillan: I have regular meetings with Paul Silk, chair of the Commission on Devolution in Wales, to discuss the Commission's work programme. Following a request from the Commission, I have agreed to extend its finish date. The Commission is currently planned to report on Part 2 of its remit by spring 2014, rather than during 2013. The extension of time will enable the Commission to give more thorough consideration to the Welsh devolution settlement.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Affordable Housing: Construction

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many affordable homes were (a) begun and (b) completed between April 2010 and September 2011 by local authority area.

Andrew Stunell: A table has been placed in the Library of the House which shows the number of affordable homes started and completed in each local authority area between April 2010 and September 2011, as reported in the Homes and Communities Agency's six monthly National Housing Statistics. These statistics only cover affordable housing that is delivered through the Homes and Communities Agency's affordable housing programmes; affordable housing delivered outside these programmes is not included. Housing starts cover new build starts only while completions include both new build and acquisitions.
	Total affordable completions for each local authority, including those delivered outside the Homes and Communities Agency's programmes, are published annually in the Department's Affordable Housing Supply statistics available on the Department's website:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingresearch/housingstatistics/housingstatisticsby/affordablehousingsupply/livetables/

Alcoholic Drinks

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the total spending on wine and other alcoholic beverages was by his Department in the last six months.

Bob Neill: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 22 February 2012, Official Report, column 834W.
	There has been no public spending on alcohol from then to the end of March 2012.

Business Improvement Districts

Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what progress has been made on the implementation of property-owner business improvements districts.

Bob Neill: Business improvement districts are an important vehicle for business-led improvement. The benefits of the projects undertaken by them are already recognised by some landlords, who are effectively engaged in business improvement district activity and are voluntarily contributing to the levy.
	In the Government's response to the Portas review we committed to exploring how a property owner business improvement district may be delivered, with the assistance of industry experts. This work is in its early stages and the details are still being considered.
	In the meantime, we are continuing to listen to what flexibility businesses need to make use of business improvement districts—which is why, in our response to the Portas review, we announced that we will invest £0.5 million in ensuring that prospective new business improvement districts can access loans to support their set-up during the summer. In addition to this, we will also be consulting on the introduction of cross boundary/tourism business improvement districts, with a view to ensuring that the necessary regulations are in place by April 2013, the start of the next billing year.

Civil Servants: Codes of Practice

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many investigations into breaches by civil servants of the Civil Service Code of Conduct occurred in his Department in each month from May 2010 to March 2012.

Bob Neill: The Department for Communities and Local Government carried out one investigation into a breach of the Civil Service Code of Conduct. This investigation was completed in April 2011.
	The Civil Service Commission's annual report for 2010-11 sets out the number of approaches handled by the Commission for that reporting period:
	http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Annual-Report-10-11.pdf

Council Tax

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the additional income that would accrue to each local authority if (a) council tax payable on empty homes were increased and (b) current exemptions to liability for council tax were extinguished as set out in the provisions of the Local Government Finance Bill.

Bob Neill: holding answer 6 February 2012
	The information requested has been placed in the Library of the House.
	Giving councils the flexibility to reduce or remove council tax relief on second homes and empty homes will allow councils to use the money to keep overall council tax bills down. This flexibility could also bring empty homes back into use, increasing housing supply and tackling property blight.
	These reforms could allow councils to make up to a £20 reduction in the bill for a typical band D property in England. Getting empty homes back into use will increase housing supply and tackle properties that can attract squatters and vandalism and blight communities.

Domestic Waste: Waste Disposal

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many local authorities have expressed interest in his Department's Weekly Collection Support Scheme.

Bob Neill: Local authorities submitted over 180 expressions of interest to the Weekly Collection Support Scheme.
	The expressions of interest covered a range of innovative projects, such as investing in new infrastructure or technology, tackling 'bin blight', or rewarding householders for recycling more.
	My officials are considering these expressions of interest and intend to provide general feedback to local authorities in due course. Local authorities now have until 11 May to submit an outline bid and 17 August for final bids.

EU Grants and Loans

Alan Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the total budget is for the European regional development fund programme for (a) 2000 to 2006 and (b) 2007 to 2013 in England; and what the estimated aggregate spend is on administration by (a) central Government, (b) the European Commission and (c) grant recipients for each of the programmes.

Bob Neill: The total European regional development fund amount paid to projects in England in the 2000-06 programme was £3,881,094,867. The total funding allocated to England for the 2007-13 programme is €3.2 billion.
	Information on spending by the European Commission on administration is not held by the Department.
	Information on spending by grant recipients on administration is not currently held and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. To place this in context, the 2000-06 programme funded 6,800 projects and the 2007-13 programme at present funds over 900 projects.
	Figures on central Government spending on administration are not currently held and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, 4% of the value of the programme is allowable under European Commission regulations to be spent as Technical Assistance. Technical Assistance can be used for administration of the programme, evaluation, encouraging access, supporting applicants to take up of the fund, and preparation for the next programme. This amount is matched by other funds. In the 2007-13 programme, approximately £37.7 million has been spent on Technical Assistance projects of which 50% comes from the European regional development fund. However, there will be additional administration costs from non-programme sources.

Fire Services: Finance

George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his policy is on integrating the capital element of grant funding into the overall revenue grant for fire and rescue services.

Bob Neill: I have recently launched a bidding process for the capital element of grant funding, details of which can be found at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/fire/capitalfunding201315
	There are no plans to integrate this grant into the overall revenue grant for fire and rescue authorities.

Fire Services: Finance

George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans he has to ensure an equitable distribution of formula grant for fire and rescue services in years three and four of the comprehensive spending review.

Bob Neill: All local authorities, including fire and rescue authorities, will be asked to respond to consultation over the summer on how the baseline distribution will be set in 2013-14.
	Provisional fire and rescue authority funding baselines will be announced at the usual time in November/December this year.

Fire Services: Finance

George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what measures he proposes to put in place to ensure stability in the grant formula for fire and rescue services.

Bob Neill: Under the proposed business rates retention scheme, fire and rescue authorities will see some protection in their funding and will be “top up authorities”. They will be able to benefit from growth in local business rates. There will be further consultation on the detail of these proposals in the summer.

Fire Services: Finance

George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether fire and rescue services will be able to bid for an element of the funding set aside from the national non-domestic rate redistribution.

Bob Neill: The central share of business rates, paid by billing authorities to central Government to ensure the scheme is fiscally sustainable, will be allocated in full to local government via grants. The Government will set out the percentage split between the central and local share of business rates, together with the mix of functions and services to be funded through retained business rates, later this spring.

Fire Services: Pensions

George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the change in the level of employer contributions to the Firefighters' Pension Scheme, what plans he has for the surplus to the scheme following the application of the new cost ceiling in 2015.

Bob Neill: Employer contribution rates for the 2015 scheme will be based on scheme valuations, not on cost ceilings. Valuations to assess the costs of all of the firefighters' pension schemes will take place periodically. Until future actuarial valuations in the schemes have been conducted, it would be premature to speculate on future levels of contributions, or any notional surplus or deficit that might arise.

Housing: Construction

Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 20 July 2010, Official Report, column 219W, on housing: construction, when he plans to announce the results of his review of circular 05/05 on planning obligations; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Neill: The National Planning Policy Framework which came into effect on 27 March 2012 replaces Circular 05/2005 on Planning Obligations. Government policy on planning obligations is now included, in the section of the framework on decision-taking.

Local Authorities: Collective Worship

Andrew Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he is taking to allow councils at each level to hold prayers at the beginning of their meetings if they wish.

Bob Neill: The Localism Act 2011 contains a general power of competence that will allow councils to innovate and legally do anything an individual could do unless specifically prohibited by law. This should give councils that want to continue holding formal prayers the confidence and legal standing to do so. The power was commenced for principal councils on 18 February and for eligible parish councils on 28 March. We are considering whether further steps may be necessary to help parishes that cannot meet the eligibility criteria. Meanwhile, the Department has provided informal advice on how non-eligible parish councils may still hold prayers in their council chamber.

Local Government Finance

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the per capita change in local authority spending in each region in the period 2011 to 2013.

Bob Neill: holding answer 1 March 2012
	Estimates of out-turn revenue expenditure for 2010-11, and budgeted revenue expenditure for 2011-12, for each local authority and Government region in England have been published on the website of the Department for Communities and Local Government at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/corporate/statistics/revenue201011localdata
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/corporate/statistics/revenuelocaldatabudget201112
	Estimates of out-turn capital expenditure for 2010-11, and forecast capital expenditure for 2011-12, for each local authority and Government region in England have been published on the website of the Department for Communities and Local Government at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/corporate/statistics/capitallocaldata201011
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/corporate/statistics/capitallocaldata1112forecastrev
	Revenue expenditure figures are from revenue out-turn for the 2010-11 out-turn figures, and from revenue account budget for the 2011-12 budget figures. Capital expenditure figures are from capital out-turn return for the 2010-11 out-turn figures, and capital estimates return for the 2011-12 budget figures.
	The Office for National Statistics has published 2010 mid-year population estimates and projections for each local authority at:
	http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/publications/re-reference-tables.html?edition=tcm%3A77-246448

Planning Permission

Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what forms of evidence local planning authorities will be required to provide at independent examination of development plan documents to demonstrate they have complied with the duty to co-operate in section 110 of the Localism Act.

Bob Neill: The duty to co-operate will help to ensure that councils have cooperated effectively in planning for issues with cross boundary impacts in their local plans. To be found sound at the independent local plan examination, councils will be required to demonstrate that their plans are effective and deliverable, including on cross boundary strategic priorities. Evidence of effective strategic co-operation might, for example, include jointly prepared policies, a memorandum of understanding or a jointly prepared strategy presented as evidence of an agreed position. However, it will not necessarily be limited to these activities and will depend upon the local issues and circumstances that councils are planning for in their local plans.

Planning Permission: Appeals

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if his Department will take steps to ensure that neighbourhoods can appeal against planning decisions granted by the Planning Inspectorate.

Bob Neill: The Planning Inspectorate considers planning appeals.
	Interested parties—including local residents—may generally make additional representations on a planning application which has gone to appeal.
	It would not be practical to place a new appeal process on top of an existing appeal process. However, a right to judicial review is set out in legislation, providing for situations such as where there has been an error in law.
	I also refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich (Dr Poulter) on 12 March 2012, Official Report, column 50W, and my answer to my hon. Friend on 28 April 2011, Official Report, column 557W.

Planning Permission: Radlett

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what representations he has received on the Helioslough application for development of the former Radlett aerodrome site; and what meetings he has held on this matter.

Bob Neill: holding answer 8 March 2012
	A list of representations will be published when the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, my right hon. Friend the Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr Pickles), issues his decision on this appeal. He has held no meetings about it, although I refer to the Minister of State for Transport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Chipping Barnet (Mrs Villiers), reply on 26 March 2012, Official Report, columns 947-48W.

Vodafone Group

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  how many contracts Vodafone has been awarded by his Department in the last 12 months;
	(2)  what contracts his Department has with Vodafone.

Bob Neill: My Department has awarded one contract to Vodafone in the last 12 months for the supply of mobile communication devices.
	This is a call off contract from the Government Procurement Service's pan government framework and it is for a period of four years starting from September 2011.

Vodafone Group

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many times the Permanent Secretary in his Department has met Vodafone representatives in the last 12 months.

Bob Neill: None. The Permanent Secretary has not had any meetings with Vodafone representatives during the period in question.
	Information on the Permanent Secretary's meetings with external organisations up until September 2011 can be found on the Department's website at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/corporate/transparencyingovernment/staffdata/permanentsecretarydata/
	Further information will be published in due course.

TRANSPORT

Green Bus Fund

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many low-carbon buses will be built in the UK using funding from the Green Bus Fund.

Norman Baker: holding answer 16 April 2012
	The third round of the Green Bus Fund, originally announced as £20 million but which prudent management of the Department's finances allowed to be increased to £31 million, is supporting bus operators and local authorities to purchase 439 new low carbon buses. It is for those organisations offered grant to decide which bus manufacturer to purchase their vehicles from, but I confidently expect that the majority of funded buses will be manufactured in the UK.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Wycombe of 29 February 2012, Official Report, column 311W, on High Speed 2 railway line, and to the hon. Member for South Northamptonshire of 12 March 2012, Official Report, column 20W, on Crossrail, for what reasons there are more officials working on the High Speed 2 proposals than on Crossrail; and if she will make a statement.

Justine Greening: holding answer 16 April 2012
	The two schemes are at very different stages of development. HS2 is at a formative, pre-legislation stage where the Department is responsible for delivering the hybrid Bill. Construction of the Crossrail scheme, as defined in the Crossrail Act 2008, is under way and the responsibility for this predominantly lies with Crossrail Ltd.

Transport: Finance

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much (a) capital and (b) revenue funding will be put towards transport schemes from the (i) Local Sustainable Transport Fund, (ii) Regional Growth Fund and (iii) Major Local Transport scheme to each scheme in each year of the current spending review period.

Norman Baker: holding answer 16 April 2012
	Responsibility for the Regional Growth Fund was transferred to the Department for Communities and Local Government in the Supplementary Estimates for 2011-12.
	The following figures show the capital and revenue funding approved in each of the current spending review years for the Local Sustainable Transport Fund and for Major Local Transport schemes.
	
		
			 Local Sustainable Transport Fund 
			 £000 
			  Plans 2011-12 Plans 2012-13 Plans 2013-14 Plans 2014-15 
			 Capital 30,000 64,000 60,000 80,000 
			 Revenue 29,351 95,358 100,000 100,000 
		
	
	
		
			 Major Local Transport Schemes 
			 £000 
			  Plans 2011-12 Plans 2012-13 Plans 2013-14 Plans 2014-15 
			 Capital 456,806 367,750 459,900 541,000 
			 Revenue 180 186 192 198 
		
	
	With regard to Major Local Transport schemes, forecast outturns for spend in 2011-12 by individual authorities are set out in the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Penistone and Stocksbridge (Angela Smith) on 20 February 2012, Official Report, column 575W.
	We expect final outturns for individual schemes for 2011-12 to be available by the end of April.
	I have placed in the House Library a table setting out forecast outturns for Local Sustainable Transport Fund spend in 2011-12 on individual schemes. Expenditure is a mixture of capital and revenue.
	For both funding streams, individual scheme allocations for 2012-13 to 2014-15 will be finalised at the start of each financial year. These allocations will be informed by previous expenditure and forecasts of annual expenditure in future years.

JUSTICE

Prisons: Drugs

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice which prisons are taking part in the pilot study for drug-free wings.

Crispin Blunt: The National Offender Management Service is committed to expand the provision of drug free wings and to assess the potential benefits which may be realised.
	There are currently six prisons involved in a pilot study for Drug Free Wings. These prisons are at an early stage in developing the shape of their wings, with an implementation date of April 2012. The pilot prisons are:
	Askham Grange;
	Bristol;
	Featherstone;
	Pentonville;
	Swaleside; and
	Swansea.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many soldiers have been (a) killed and (b) injured during supply and re-supply operations in Afghanistan since (i) operations began and (ii) January 2011.

Nick Harvey: holding answer 26 March 2012
	Since operations began in 2001, a total of 14 UK soldiers have been reported as being killed in Afghanistan while conducting tasks that involved supply or re-supply. None of these fatalities occurred since January 2011.
	Information on the number of UK soldiers wounded in Afghanistan while conducting supply or re-supply tasks since operations began, and since January 2011, is not held in the format requested.
	Re-supply operations are carried out by a range of methods such as military helicopter lift, contractor helicopter lift in addition to land supply.

Afghanistan

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what estimate his Department has made of the fatality rate per 1,000 personnel-years of ISAF-trained Afghan National Army personnel who were deployed alongside UK-troops in (a) 2009, (b) 2010 and (c) 2011;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the number of fatalities among ISAF-trained Afghan National Army personnel deployed alongside UK troops in Afghanistan to the end of (a) June 2009, (b) December 2009, (c) June 2010, (d) December 2010, (e) June 2011 and (f) December 2011.

Nick Harvey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the former Secretary of State for Defence, the right hon. Member for North Somerset (Dr Fox), on 15 March 2011, Official Report, column 208W. We do not hold information on the number of fatalities in the Afghan National Security Forces as it is a matter for the Government of Afghanistan.

Centre for Defence Enterprise

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many projects were funded by the Centre for Defence Enterprise through Small Business Research Initiative competitions in 2009-10 and 2010-11; and what the value of such projects was.

Peter Luff: In financial year (FY) 2009-10, 98 proposals submitted to the Centre for Defence Enterprise (CDE), in response to competitions aligned with the Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI), were approved for funding to a total of £5.3 million.
	In FY 2010-11, 100 proposals submitted to the CDE, in response to competitions aligned with the SBRI, were approved for funding to a total of £4.9 million.
	The Government have recently expanded the role of CDE following the publication of the White Paper ‘National Security Through Technology’ and increased the priority attached to SMEs within its work.

Defence Equipment: Internet

Gemma Doyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what reports he has received on equipment for armed forces personnel being available for purchase on the internet; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Robathan: Since 2008, the Ministry of Defence Police (MDP) has run a proactive ongoing operation named Operation Embroil, which investigates the internet sale of Ministry of Defence equipment which should not lawfully be available in the public domain. The breakdown of the number of intelligence packages opened by the MDP Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB) on Operation Embroil matters is as follows:
	
		
			  Cases 
			 2008 43 
			 2009 81 
			 2010 126 
			 2011 107 
			 2012 17 
		
	
	Operation Embroil has resulted in property recovery and more than 70 persons have been arrested with 15 successful prosecutions, 17 persons cautioned, and a number referred for service discipline procedures.

Email

John Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is on the period for which emails sent and received by (a) Ministers, (b) officials, and (c) special advisers in his Department are retained; and whether such emails are recoverable from the IT systems in his Department after that period.

Andrew Robathan: The length of time an email is retained by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) is determined by the value of the information contained in the email. MOD officials are responsible for determining what information has value to the Department and ensuring it is appropriately stored as a record. Official records are currently retained by the MOD for between two and 30 years. They can be kept beyond 30 years with the Lord Chancellor's permission if they are too sensitive to transfer to the National Archives or have ongoing value to the MOD.
	Emails not considered to be of value and not forming part of the MOD's official record or those which have been stored as records but have reached the end of their allocated retention period will be disposed of by officials. Once all copies of the email have been deleted, the Department's main information system ensures emails remain recoverable for a period of six months.
	The storage limit on MOD mailboxes is 200 megabytes, meaning that MOD staff are required to delete messages, not considered to be of value and not forming part of the MOD's official record, from inboxes on a regular basis in order to ensure efficient working.

Nuclear Submarines: Devonport Dockyard

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the closure of the Tamar ferry servicers will be necessary for any future visits of (a) Vanguard class and (b) Astute class submarines to Devonport.

Nick Harvey: holding answer 16 April 2012
	From time to time there is a requirement for a temporary suspension of movements within the Dockyard Port of Plymouth, including the Torpoint Ferries. These are governed by the Dockyard Ports Regulation Act 1865 and the Dockyard Port of Plymouth Order 1999.
	The suspension of movements may be required for visits from both Vanguard and Astute class submarines, but will be dependent on the circumstances at the time.

Plymouth

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department has received any representations or inquiries about the potential implications for the Royal Navy of the proposal to build a pier in Plymouth Sound.

Nick Harvey: The Queen's Harbour Master (QHM), Plymouth, met representatives of local architects in January 2012 to discuss the proposal to build a pier in Plymouth Sound. These were preliminary, informal discussions at which the QHM explained that the priority for the Ministry of Defence would be to ensure the continued safe operation of Her Majesty's Naval Base Devonport. He also outlined, in principle, some of the issues that would need to be taken into account when considering any such proposal.

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Feed-in Tariffs

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many installations were accredited for feed-in tariffs in Scotland at the latest date; what the cost has been to the public purse of the subsidy paid; what projections have been made of the cost of future subsidies for the operation of this scheme in Scotland; what other Government financial support is made available to the renewable sector in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

Gregory Barker: At the end of 15 April 2012 there were 15,887 installations with 65MW total installed capacity in Scotland confirmed on the Central FITs Register.
	The total cost of the Feed-In Tariffs scheme across, England, Scotland and Wales from 1 April 2010 to 31 December 2011 was £90,750,555.01. Please note that the figures for year 2 (1 April 2011 onwards) have yet to be reconciled and these are subject to change. Ofgem are unable to apportion costs to individual nations within Great Britain.
	Projections of future costs of the FITs scheme have also not been produced at sub-UK level, but the most recent overall cost projections can be found in the impact assessments supporting consultation documents on the comprehensive review of FITs, which were published on 9 February 2012 and are available at:
	www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/meeting_energy/renewable_ener/feedin_tariff/feedin_tariff.aspx
	Estimates of future scheme costs are extremely uncertain, and depend on a number of assumptions such as future technology, costs, and market growth. DECC is continuously reviewing its estimates in the light of the latest evidence, and will provide updated assessments for the final impact assessment published alongside the Government, response to the current consultation.
	The renewables obligation (RO) is currently the Government's main mechanism for incentivising the deployment of large-scale renewable electricity deployment across the UK, including Scotland. In addition, DECC is running a UK-wide Marine Energy Array Demonstrator scheme, which is a £20 million fund providing capital support to project developers installing the first wave and/or tidal arrays of full-scale devices in UK waters. The Technology Strategy Board also has a £10 million Innovation fund for wave and tidal in conjunction with the Natural Environment Research Council and Scottish Government

Green Deal Scheme

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many organisations bid for the tender issued by his Department in January 2012 to test, evaluate and fine-tune proposals for Green Deal and Energy Company Obligation brokerage models.

Gregory Barker: One organisation bid for the contract to test, evaluate and fine-tune proposals for Green Deal and Energy Company Obligation brokerage models. They were successfully assessed as meeting the published criteria for the contract, and were appointed on that basis.

Green Deal Scheme

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 
	(1)  when he expects the Energy Company Obligation and Green Deal brokerage function to become operational;
	(2)  how many local authorities he expects to participate in the Green Deal brokerage.

Gregory Barker: The Government consulted on the option of a brokerage to link Energy Company Obligation (ECO) subsidy and Green Deal finance. The Government will publish their response to the consultation in due course and will provide further details on brokerage as part of that response, including when brokerage may be operational and who may have access to it. Local authorities are expected to be key partners for energy companies in delivering the ECO.
	In the meantime, Government continue to work with a range of stakeholders to design a brokerage.

Renewable Energy

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the oral answer of 8 March 2012, Official Report, column 1002, on low-carbon technologies, what forecast his Department has made of the level of renewable electricity generation it expects to become operational in (a) 2013, (b) 2014, (c) 2015, (d) 2016, (e) 2017, (f) 2018, (g) 2019 and (h) 2020.

Gregory Barker: DECC's Restats database holds data on the status of large-scale renewable electricity generation projects, including those under construction. The intended operational date is not captured so it is not possible to tell when projects will become operational, however the date on which generation commenced is recorded. A progress datasheet for February 2012 (the latest data available) can be accessed at:
	https://restats.decc.gov.uk/app/reporting/decc/datasheet
	The Renewable Energy Roadmap (published in July 2011) includes illustrative “central ranges” for eight key technologies—including renewable electricity technologies—and while they do not represent technology specific targets or the level of our ambition, they do show what could be deployed by 2020. The roadmap can be downloaded from our website at:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/meeting_energy/renewable_ener/re_roadmap/re_roadmap.aspx

Renewables Obligation

Glyn Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he expects to report on his banding review of the renewables obligation.

Charles Hendry: Following the recent public consultation exercise, a final decision on support levels for the renewable electricity technologies examined in the renewables obligation (RO) banding review will be set out in the Government's response this spring. The banding review will set the levels of support for large-scale renewable electricity generation for the period 2013-17. Subject to parliamentary and state aids approval, legislation implementing the new support bands will come into effect on 1 April 2013 (1 April 2014 for offshore wind).

Warm Home Discount Scheme

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether his Department has placed a requirement on energy suppliers to report on the number of people receiving assistance under the warm home discount scheme.

Gregory Barker: The warm home discount regulations 2011 require Ofgem to determine energy suppliers' spending for each scheme year as soon as is reasonably practicable after the end of the scheme year. The regulations also provide Ofgem with powers to request information from energy suppliers to allow it to fulfil its duties with respect to the scheme, this will include the number of people assisted through the warm home discount scheme.

EDUCATION

Adoption: Kent

Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many children in (a) Chatham and Aylesford constituency and (b) Medway were in foster care waiting for adoption in each of the last five years.

Tim Loughton: The information requested for Medway local authority can be found in the table. Information at constituency level is not available.
	The decision that a looked after child should be placed for adoption is made by their local authority but the local authority cannot actually place the child with prospective adopters without either a placement order or parental consent (depending on the individual circumstances of the case).
	Information about the decision that a child should be placed for adoption has only been collected for all looked after children, for whom a decision was made, since 2009. Previously, this information was collectedonly for children who had been adopted. Consequently, the
	number of children waiting for adoption can be provided only for the last three years.
	
		
			 Looked after children for whom the decision was made that they should be placed for adoption while placed in foster care, who were then placed for adoption, adopted, had the decision that they should be placed for adoption reversed or who were still waiting to be adopted at 31 March (1,2,3,4) , years ending 31 March 2009 to 2011, coverage: Medway Towns 
			 Number 
			   Year in which the child was placed for adoption, adopted, for whom the decision was reversed or was waiting to be adopted 
			   2009 2010 2011 
			 Year in which the decision was made that the child should be placed for adoption No.  of children in foster care for whom the decision was made that they should be placed for adoption No.  of children placed for adoption No.  of children adopted No.  for whom the decision was reversed No.  at 31 March awaiting adoption (5) No.  of children placed for adoption No.  of children adopted No.  for whom the decision was reversed No.  at 31 March awaiting adoption (5) No.  of children placed for adoption No.  of children adopted No.  for whom the decision was reversed No.  at 31 March awaiting adoption (5) 
			 2009 15 * 0 0 15 10 5 0 10 * 5 * * 
			 2010 25 n/a n/a n/a n/a 10 * 0 25 5 10 0 15 
			 2011 25 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a * 0 0 25 
			 * = Figures not shown in order to protect confidentiality. n/a = Not applicable. (1) Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 5. For confidentiality purposes, numbers from one to five inclusive have been replaced by an asterisk (*). Where any number is shown as zero (0), the original figure submitted was zero (0). Consequently, the figures may not add up. (2) Only children looked after in a foster care placement when the decision was made that they should be placed for adoption have been counted. (3) For children living with the family intending to adopt them (i.e. placed for adoption), it is for the prospective adopters to apply to court for an adoption order. (4) Children waiting to be placed for adoption may either be waiting for a placement order to be made by the court or be in the process of being matched with prospective adopters. (5) The number of children at 31 March awaiting adoption is calculated as the total number of children in foster care for whom the decision was made that they should be placed for adoption, minus the total number of children who were adopted or for whom the decision was reversed. The number includes children who have been placed for adoption, but for whom an adoption order has not yet been made, as well as children who have not yet been placed. Source: SSDA 903 
		
	
	Information on adopted children can be found in the Statistical First Release ‘Children Looked After by Local Authorities in England (including adoption and care leavers)—year ending 31 March 2011’, which is available on the Department’s website via the following link:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s001026/index.shtml

CAFCASS: Stoke on Trent

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many complaints the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service received about its services in Stoke-on-Trent in each year since its inception.

Tim Loughton: CAFCASS is an independent body with its own procedures in place to deal with complaints. The Department for Education does not therefore hold this information. Anthony Douglas, the chief executive of CAFCASS has written to the hon. Member and a copy of his response has been placed in the Libraries.
	Letter from Anthony Douglas, dated 2 April 2012
	I am writing to you in order to provide answers to the Parliamentary Question that you tabled recently:
	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many complaints the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service received about its services in Stoke-on-Trent in each year since its inception.
	Cafcass was formed in 2001. Cafcass is unable to isolate the Stoke related complaints from those that originate from the much larger Staffordshire (including Stoke-on-Trent) area. Therefore, Cafcass cannot answer the question in relation to the specific terms in which it is put.
	Please see the table below which indicates the total number of Complaints in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire since 2006. This has been provided alongside the National Cafcass figures.
	
		
			  Area 
			  Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire National 
			 2006 10 596 
			 2007 18 682 
			 2008 35 945 
			 2009 38 1,342 
			 2010 38 1,047 
			 2011 27 1,124

Government Art Collection

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many pieces of artwork his ministerial office has on loan from the Government Art Collection; and (a) who the artist, (b) what the estimated value and (c) what the description is of each piece.

Tim Loughton: holding answer 22 March 2012
	The ministerial office of the Secretary of State for Education has three pieces of artwork on loan from the Government Art Collection. The artist, the estimated value and the description of each piece contained in the following table:
	
		
			 Artist Estimated value (£) Description 
			 Bernard Cheese 200 Painting—Attaching the Winch 
			 Patricia Pratt 75 Painting—Still Night 
			 Alan Baines 75 Painting—This Land of Ours

Members: Correspondence

Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when the Minister of State for Schools plans to respond to the letter of 22 February 2012 from the hon. Member for Weaver Vale on behalf of Ron and Pat Earps.

Tim Loughton: The Minister of State for Schools, my hon. Friend the Member for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton (Mr Gibb), replied to my hon. Friend on Friday 30 March.

Taxis

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much his Department spent on taxis for (a) Ministers and (b) civil servants between August 2011 and January 2012.

Tim Loughton: The Department has a contract with Addison Lee (a London-based private hire company). The total expenditure on private hire vehicles via this contract, between August 2011 and January 2012 for (a) Ministers is £2,370 and (b) civil servants is £34,569.
	Information about spending on black cabs and other taxis is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Taxis

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much his private ministerial office has spent on taxi hire in the last 12 months.

Tim Loughton: holding answer 22 March 2012
	The Department has a contract with Addison Lee (a London-based private hire company). The total expenditure on private hire vehicles for the whole of the DfE Private Office in the last 12 months (from March 2011 to February 2012) is £15,989.
	Information about spending on black cabs and other taxis is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Vodafone Group

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many times the permanent secretary in his Department has met Vodafone representatives in the last 12 months.

Tim Loughton: The permanent secretary of the Department for Education has not had any meetings with Vodafone representatives in the last 12 months.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Civil Servants: Codes of Practice

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many investigations into breaches by civil servants of the Civil Service Code of Conduct occurred in his Department in each month from May 2010 to March 2012.

Alan Duncan: There have been fewer than five investigations in the Department for International Development into breaches by civil servants of the Civil Service Code of Conduct between May 2010 and March 2012.
	The Civil Service Commission Annual Report and Accounts 2010-11 sets out the total number of approaches handled by the Commission for that reporting period.

Developing Countries: Carbon Emissions

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps the Government has taken to assist developing countries to cut carbon dioxide emissions since May 2010.

Stephen O'Brien: The UK Government are committed to helping developing countries carry out the urgent work needed to adapt to climate change and develop in a low carbon way, including reducing emissions from deforestation. UK support is delivered through bilateral and multilateral programmes. This includes, for example, £133 million to the Clean Technology Fund since May 2010, which, along with other contributions, is expected to leverage approximately $35 billion of investment in low carbon projects, and help reduce over 1.5 billion tons of greenhouse gas emissions, this is comparable to a third of the EU's annual emissions.
	The UK Government have set up the International Climate Fund (ICF) to help developing countries combat climate change and reduce poverty. The ICF will provide £2.9 billion from 2011 to 2015 to help poor countries develop in a low carbon way, help the poorest adapt to the effects of climate change, and protect the world's forests and those who rely on them. It is pioneering new ways to increase private investment in clean technologies; for example the Climate Public Private Partnership should, over the investment lifetime of the partnership, avoid an amount of CO2 equivalent to that emitted in a typical year by 6.6 million European cars and help to create 7,000 megawatts of clean energy.
	Further details of what the UK is doing can be found online in the UK Fast Start Climate Change Finance brochure.

Developing Countries: Education

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will take steps to ensure that disabled children in (a) Afghanistan, (b) Bangladesh, (c) Burma, (d) Democratic Republic of Congo, (e) Ethiopia, (f) Kenya, (g) Nigeria, (h) Pakistan, (i) Tanzania and (j) Zimbabwe are able to benefit equally from spending by his Department on education.

Stephen O'Brien: The UK Government are committed to helping provide a good quality basic education for ail children, including those with a disability. The countries listed are all priority countries for the Department for International Development (DFID) and each has published an Operational Plan—available on the DFID website—that sets out how we will work with partners, in each country to overcome the barriers that all children face in accessing a good qualify basic education.

Developing Countries: Education

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his policy is on funding education systems that are not accessible to disabled children.

Stephen O'Brien: The Department for International Development's (DFID) is committed to ensuring its education investments will reach all children, including those with a disability through our support to multilateral, international and non-governmental organisations. We recognise that disability is a major factor excluding children from school and we are working with our country partners to tailor our education support; for example, in Malawi, we have helped approximately 700,000 children with disabilities to enter education. Through DFID support 4,200 classrooms have been constructed and 70% of these have ramp access.

Developing Countries: HIV Infection

Pamela Nash: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many full-time equivalent staff in his Department spent at least 75 per cent of their time working on HIV and AIDS policy issues (a) in 2005 and (b) in the latest period for which figures are available.

Stephen O'Brien: Regrettably we are unable to provide you with accurate figures for 2005.
	Currently two full-time equivalent staff spend at least 75 per cent of their time working on HIV and AIDS policy issues in Policy Division. Staff in Policy Division are supported by a wider team working on HIV including, the Global Funds Team, Research and Evidence Department, Civil Society Department and Health and HIV Advisers working in Department for International Development Country Offices.

Developing Countries: Water

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support the Government has provided to developing countries for water and sanitation improvements since May 2010.

Stephen O'Brien: Details of the Department for International Development (DFID) bilateral aid expenditure by sector for financial year 2010-11 are published in Statistics on International Development (SID) which is available online at:
	www.dfid.gov.uk
	The figures for 2011-12 are not yet available, but the results we intend to achieve are set out in the operational plans available on our website.

Vodafone Group

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many times the permanent secretary in his Department has met Vodafone representatives in the last 12 months.

Alan Duncan: Details of all the permanent secretary's external meetings are available on the Department for international Development's website
	http://www.dfid.gov.uk/About-us/Our-organisation/Management-board/
	and are published every quarter in the normal way.

BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS

English Language: Education

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the ministerial statement on English for speakers of other languages of 29 February 2012, Official Report, column 31WS, 
	(1)  what process and criteria he used to determine which institutions would receive funding;
	(2)  which institutions have been awarded additional funding.

John Hayes: The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) identified local authority areas facing significant integration challenges to receive additional funding for English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). This selection was based on a number of factors, including reported levels of integration and participation. Using information provided by the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) of the largest providers of ESOL courses across England, DCLG then identified providers in these target areas to be offered money from this fund to support additional ESOL training.

Intellectual Property Office

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what contracts the Intellectual Property Office had for the provision of (a) patent searches in other countries, (b) patent searches for other government bodies to support grant schemes and (c) other commercial intellectual property services on (i) 1 January 2011 and (ii) 1 January 2012; with whom such contracts were signed; what the commencement and termination dates of such contracts were; and in respect of what services each such contract was signed.

Norman Lamb: The Intellectual Property Office has a contract with the Irish Patent Office to supply searches. This was signed in 1993 and remains in force.
	To support grant schemes the Office had an annual service level agreement with the Welsh Government in place for 2010/11 and 2011/12. A three-year framework agreement is also in place with Scottish Enterprise starting April 2009. Up until November 2011 the Office also did work for regional development agencies, part of our parent Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. This was charged at a standard hourly rate.
	Other commercial intellectual property services were available on a case-by-case basis but these services were withdrawn in October 2011.

Mature Students

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  how many learners aged 24 years and over working toward Level 3 of higher qualifications there are in each local authority area;
	(2)  what proportion of learners aged 24 years and over seeking Level 3 qualifications and above in England are studying (a) at further education colleges, (b) at independent learner providers and (c) in voluntary/third sector provision.

John Hayes: holding answer 16 April 2012
	I am placing in the Libraries of the House data which show the number of learners aged 24+ participating on Level 3 and above further education courses in England by local authority in 2010/11.
	The following table shows the number and proportion of learners aged 24+ participating on Level 3 and above further education courses in England by provider type in 2010/11.
	2010/11 is the latest year for which final data are available.
	
		
			 Adult (aged 24+) participation on Level 3 and above further education courses by provider type, 2010/11 
			 Provider type Participation on Level 3 or above courses 
			  Number Percentage 
			 General FE college including tertiary 207,870 55 
			 Sixth form college 4,230 1 
			 Special colleges 11,190 3 
			 Other public funded 28,730 8 
			 Schools 460 — 
			 Private sector public funded 124,430 33 
			 Total 376,900 100 
			 Notes: 1. Information in this table is based on all Government-funded learners. 2. These data include education and training, apprenticeships, workplace learning and community learning provision. 3. All figures are rounded to the nearest 10 except the total which is rounded to the nearest 100. Figures may not sum due to rounding. 4. ‘—’ indicates a percentage of less than 0.5%. 5. Age is based on age at the start of the academic year. Learners with an unknown age have been included. 6. Special colleges include agriculture and horticulture colleges; art, design and performing arts colleges and specialist designated college. 7. Other public funded includes central Government Department, central Government NDPB, public corporations and trading funds, local education authority (LEA), social services, other local authority, police authority, fire authority, local authority department, local authority, NHS-English foundation trust, NHS-English non-foundation trust, NHS-other organisations, independent school or college, UFI directly funded hub, dance and drama school, external institution, higher education organisation, school sixth form (not college), special learning needs establishment, other public organisation, charitable, non-charitable, other voluntary organisation, LSC region, special college, academy. 8. Private sector public funded includes community interest company, company incorporated by royal charter (England/Wales), employer association, independent association, industrial/provident (England/Wales), limited liability partnership, limited partnership, PRI/LBG/NSC/S.30, PRI/LTD BY GUAR/NSC, private limited company, private unlimited company, public limited company, sole trader, trade union, chamber of commerce/trade, organisation in business in its own right, other private organisation, Business Link. Source: Individualised Learner Record 
		
	
	Information on the number of learners participating in further education is published in a quarterly Statistical First Release (SFR). The latest SFR was published on 29March 2012:
	http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/statisticalfirstrelease/sfr_current

Procurement

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many contracts his Department had with (a) Capita, (b) Serco and (c) ATOS in the last 12 months.

Norman Lamb: The information is as follows:
	Capita and Serco
	The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills central finance system records payments on a transactional rather than contractual basis. To answer the question it would be necessary to examine the details of every individual purchase order to Capita and Serco and to then link each to a particular contract in consultation with the original commissioning business unit. This is a manual exercise which would incur disproportionate cost.
	ATOS
	The Department made no payments to ATOS in the financial year 2011-12.

Students: Loans

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will publish a list of for-profit higher education providers; and how many students took out student loans in respect of studies with such providers in each year since 2006.

David Willetts: holding answer 19 March 2012
	The Department does not hold comprehensive information on whether higher education (HE) providers are classed as for-profit or not-for-profit institutions. All Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) funded HE providers are considered to be ‘not for profit’. However, some non HEFCE funded HE providers provide courses of HE, on a for profit basis, but others do not—and the Department does not distinguish between the two. I have, however placed a list in the Libraries of the House showing the number of students that took out student loans in respect of studies with all types of private providers in each year since 2006.

Undertakers: Standards

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will introduce a statutory code to promote good practice in the services offered by funeral directors.

Norman Lamb: The Government are committed to reducing regulation, and there are no plans to introduce statutory consumer codes. We believe that voluntary codes such as the Consumer Code Accreditation Scheme (CCAS) currently run by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) provide assurances to consumers about the quality of the service they are buying.
	On 11 April 2012, the Government published their response to the consultation on Empowering and Protecting Consumers. We are inviting the Trading Standards Institute (TSI) to establish a successor to the Consumer Code Approval Scheme (CCAS) from April 2013 on a self-funding basis. In the meantime, the OFT will continue to maintain the CCAS for existing members and progress well-advanced applications. Discussions with code sponsors are continuing on the development of the new scheme and the TSI will be consulting widely on a mechanism for self-funding.
	Although there is no existing consumer code for funeral services, both the National Society of Allied & Independent Funeral Directors (SAIF) and the National Association of Funeral Directors (NADF) operate codes of practice. I encourage SAIF and NADF to consider whether to develop a consumer code for their industry, working with the TSI.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Afghanistan

Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he had with the US Administration during the Prime Minister's visit to Washington DC on ending the combat role of British troops in Afghanistan.

William Hague: My discussions supported those of the Prime Minister and President Obama, which reaffirmed the plan for the transition of security responsibilities. As Afghan capability continues to develop, International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) troops will increasingly move to a support role. British troops will no longer be in a combat role by the end of 2014.

Afghanistan

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his NATO counterparts on co-ordination of the withdrawal of international troops from Afghanistan.

Alistair Burt: The UK continues to take all opportunities to discuss the next stages of the international security assistance force (ISAF) mission with partners. Forthcoming opportunities include the NATO joint Foreign and Defence Ministerial this week, in advance of the Chicago summit in May.

Iran

Iain Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on Iran; and if he will make a statement.

William Hague: I am in regular contact with his my European colleagues on Iran. Most recently my officials met with Iran alongside France, Germany, the United States, China and Russia in Istanbul on 14 April to discuss Iran's nuclear programme.

Iraq

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of due process and fairness in trials in Iraq.

Alistair Burt: We continue to have concerns about the administration of justice in Iraq. We have repeatedly called on the Iraqi Ministry of Justice to improve transparency and to move away from confessional-based evidence. We will continue to identify opportunities to help the Government of Iraq to improve justice.

Sri Lanka

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of human rights in Sri Lanka.

Alistair Burt: We continue to have concerns about human rights in Sri Lanka including disappearances, political violence, reports of torture in custody and restrictions on free expression. We raise our concerns directly with the Government of Sri Lanka and call upon them to investigate reports of human rights abuses wherever they occur.

Sudan and South Sudan

Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Governments of Sudan and South Sudan on the ongoing dispute over oil.

Henry Bellingham: We have made representations on numerous occasions to both Governments on the ongoing oil dispute, and the importance for the economic development of both countries for an agreement to restart oil production soon. I had extensive discussions with both parties during the African Union summit in Addis Ababa in January, when they came close to signing a deal. We are continuing to support the mediation efforts of the African Union led by former President Mbeki.

Falklands

Mark Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support the Government are providing to Falkland Islanders; and if he will make a statement.

Jeremy Browne: The British Government's support for the Falkland Islanders is unequivocal. We are fully committed to the Islanders' rights to decide their own future, and develop their economy. In this 30th anniversary year the greatest memorial there can be to the sacrifices made by our servicemen is to protect a prosperous and secure future for the Falkland Islands and its people.

India

Pamela Nash: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he had with the government of India on the sentence of capital punishment in the case of Balwant Singh Rajoana.

Jeremy Browne: It is the longstanding policy of successive British Governments strongly to oppose the death penalty in all circumstances as a matter of principle. The recent announcement that the Indian authorities were to carry out the execution of Balwant Singh Rajoana was deeply concerning and I raised this case with the Indian High Commissioner on 28 March. I welcome the stay of execution issued on 28 March to allow the Indian President to consider an appeal for clemency and will continue to monitor developments closely.
	We regularly make clear our position on the death penalty, both bilaterally and through the European Union, to the Indian Government. On 11 April, the EU presented a demarche to the Indian Ministry of External Affairs about the possible resumption of executions. We intend to raise the issue of the death penalty at the upcoming EU-India Human Rights Dialogue.

North Korea

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his Chinese counterpart on the forced repatriation of North Korean refugees.

Jeremy Browne: We have raised our concerns with the Chinese Government on a number of occasions about the treatment of North Korean refugees upon repatriation, and urged them to allow access by the relevant UN organisations to North Korean citizens resident in China. This formed a part of discussions at the 19th Round of the UK-China Human Rights Dialogue in January 2011.
	We will continue to raise the issue of North Korean refugees with the Chinese Government, and to work to address this issue through multilateral institutions.

Tibet

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will raise with the Chinese government the number of self-immolation cases in Tibet and surrounding provinces.

Jeremy Browne: I raised my concerns about self-immolations with Vice Foreign Minister Madame Fu Ying during my visit to China in November last year. I also wrote to the Chinese ambassador regarding the situation at Kirti Monastery and called for restraint. I made a statement on 25 January following reports of shootings of protesters in Tibetan areas, calling for restraint, and for resolution of underlying grievances.
	The right hon. Lord Howell of Guildford, Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, raised our concerns about the situation in Tibet with the Deputy Party Secretary of the Tibet Autonomous Region, Hao Peng, on 7 December.
	Officials in London have also raised their concerns with the Chinese embassy here, and staff at our embassy in Beijing have done likewise with the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and relevant provincial authorities. Our officials in China make regular visits to Tibetan areas. We remain in frequent contact with the relevant authorities regarding access to these areas.
	This issue was also discussed at the annual UK-China Human Rights Dialogue in January.

TREASURY

Catering

Jon Trickett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department spent on complimentary refreshments for (a) staff and (b) visitors in the latest period for which figures are available.

Chloe Smith: The latest figures available for refreshment costs are from April 2011 to February 2012. The figures are not separately recorded to identify which of these costs were for staff and which were for external visitors. The figures for the last three years are shown in the following table:
	
		
			 Financial year Total spend (£) 
			 2011-12 25,778.13 
			 2010-11 73,047.15 
			 2009-10 180,036.40 
		
	
	Costs for refreshments have significantly reduced compared to previous years; due to changes in the Department's travel and subsistence guidance restricting the use of working lunches and the ordering of refreshments.

Civil Servants: Codes of Practice

Jon Trickett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many investigations into breaches by civil servants of the civil service code of conduct occurred in his Department in each month from May 2010 to March 2012.

Chloe Smith: No investigations into breaches of the civil service code were started in the period since May 2010.
	The Civil Service Commission’s annual report for 2010-11 sets out the number of approaches handled by the commission for the period at:
	http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Annual-Report-10-11.pdf

Departmental Pay

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many officials in (a) his Department and (b) the non-departmental public bodies for which his Department is responsible are paid (i) £100,000 and (ii) £142,500 or more per annum.

Chloe Smith: 22 HM Treasury officials are paid between £100,000 and £142,499 a year. Five officials are paid £142,500 or more a year.
	The Government are committed to public sector pay restraint, and believe that senior managers should show leadership in this area. In addition to the pay freeze policy that is currently in place, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, the right hon. Member for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey (Danny Alexander), signs-off the salaries of any individuals earning over £142,500, in areas under ministerial control.

Excise Duties: Fuels

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the effect on the economy of Northern Ireland of recent trends in the price of petrol and diesel;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the total amount of revenue raised from duty and VAT on petrol and diesel in Northern Ireland in each year since 2007.

Chloe Smith: Fuel price effects on the economy are assessed by the Office of Budget Responsibility as part of its economic and fiscal forecasts:
	http://budgetresponsibility.independent.gov.uk
	The Treasury does not hold regionalised information on tax receipts from transport taxes.

Housing: Carbon Emissions

Paul Flynn: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of zero-carbon homes that will have been built as a result of the incentive offered by the Stamp Duty Land Tax relief offered on such houses up to the end of the scheme.

Chloe Smith: HMRC received 93 claims for the SDLT relief offered on zero carbon homes between 1 October 2007 and 31 December 2011. Analysis has not been undertaken on whether or not these properties would have been built in the absence of the relief.

Loans: Republic of Ireland

Mark Reckless: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of whether the bilateral Irish loan will continue to rank above private sector debt, such as the holdings of Irish gilts, in the event of a restructuring or if it will now have a lower level of priority in line with that of eurozone credit, extended under the European Financial Stability Facility, following the eurozone agreement of 20 June 2011.

Mark Hoban: holding answer 19 March 2012
	The Government have agreed to provide a bilateral loan of £3.2 billion to Ireland, as part of an international package of financial assistance. The Government expect to be repaid in full.
	There is a convention that multilateral loans, such as those involving the IMF, rank senior in any loan agreement. In the case of Ireland, that means principally its loan from the IMF, but also its loan from the European Financial Stabilisation Mechanism, which is backed by the EU budget.
	As the Chancellor of the Exchequer said to the House on 15 December 2010, when debating the Loans to Ireland Bill, the UK's bilateral loan to Ireland will rank equally with euro area loans from the European Financial Stability Facility, and the other bilateral loans, from Sweden and Denmark.
	The 20 June 2011 statement from euro area finance Ministers makes no reference to Ireland and its programme of assistance, including the UK bilateral loan.

Lost Property

Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what property has been lost or stolen from his Department in the last 12 months; and what the estimated cost was of replacement of such property.

Chloe Smith: The following items have been reported lost or stolen from the Department during the 12 months ending December 2011:
	
		
			 Item Number lost or stolen 
			 Laptop Computers 9 
			 Blackberry mobile devices 15 
			 Laptop encryption tokens 22 
			 USB memory stick 1 
			 Mobile phone 1 
			 Computer mice 2 
		
	
	The total cost of replacement is estimated at £13,105.
	All the laptop computers involved in these thefts were encrypted devices which are not accessible without a security token and two different passwords. No tokens or passwords were left with these items, and so there was no data loss, and steps were taken, as soon as the theft of the electronic items were reported, to ensure that they provided no means of access to any of the Department's IT systems.

Procurement

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of contracts issued by (a) his Department and (b) agencies for which he is responsible were rewarded to small and medium-sized enterprises in the latest period for which figures are available.

Chloe Smith: The European Commission Recommendation 2003/361/EC of 6 May 2003 defines a small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) as a company with a headcount of less than 250 full-time equivalents and either an annual turnover of no more than €50 million (£41.6 million) or a balance sheet that does not exceed €43 million (£35.8 million).
	Between January and December 2011 the proportion of the contracts let by HM Treasury and agencies with suppliers classified as SMEs against this definition was:
	
		
			  Percentage 
			 HM Treasury (core Department) 25 
			 Asset Protection Agency 20 
			 Debt Management Office 30 
			 UK Financial Investments 15

Project Merlin

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish Project Merlin targets for each UK region; and whether such targets have been met in the latest period for which figures are available.

Mark Hoban: Project Merlin was a UK wide aggregate commitment. There were no regional targets set under the Project Merlin agreement.
	The Bank of England published the final results for Project Merlin on 13 February. In 2011, UK banks lent over £214 billion to British businesses—a 20% increase compared with 2010, exceeding the overall lending target by £24 billion. Figures also showed a 13% increase in SME lending compared with 2010, with SME lending rising to over £74 billion.

Smuggling

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he made of the total value of seizures of (a) illegal tobacco and (b) alcohol in each of the last five years.

Chloe Smith: Owing to the variations in the potential sales value of excise goods, reliable estimates of total value are unavailable.
	Estimates of the value of the tax (excise duty and VAT) on tobacco and alcohol products seized by HMRC and UKBA in each of the last five years are:
	
		
			 HMRC and UK Border Force tobacco (cigarettes, hand rolling tobacco, chewing tobacco, cigars) seizures 
			  Tax (£) 
			 2006-07 273,071,561 
			 2007-08 235,524,495 
			 2008-09 227,577,112 
			 2009-10 205,669,038 
			 2010-11(1) 222,758,539 
			 (1 )These figures do not include cigars. 
		
	
	
		
			 HMRC and UK Border Force alcohol (beer, spirits, wine) seizures 
			  Tax (£) 
			 2006-07 5,986,701 
			 2007-08 12,908,680 
			 2008-09 11,795,487 
			 2009-10 16,974,974 
			 2010-11 23,951,304

Smuggling

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he made of the value of duty that the Exchequer will lose from tobacco and alcohol smuggling in 2012-13.

Chloe Smith: Estimates of the value of duty lost to the Exchequer from tobacco and alcohol smuggling in 2012-13 are not available.
	The latest estimates of losses in duty associated with illicit sales of tobacco products, beer and spirits are for 2009-10. These were published in “Measuring Tax Gaps 2011”
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/measuring-tax-gaps.htm

Solar Power

Caroline Flint: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment his Department has made of the effect of the (a) removal of enhanced capital allowance and (b) reduction of the standard rate of capital allowance for expenditure on solar PV on likely future levels of take-up of solar PV.

Chloe Smith: These changes take effect from April 2012. Solar PV has never qualified for enhanced capital allowances. The Government’s assessment of the impact of fixing the rate of capital allowances for expenditure on solar PV was included in the tax information and impact note accompanying draft Finance Bill 2012 legislation, published at the time of the autumn statement on 6 December 2011.

Stamp Duty Land Tax

John McDonnell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he commissioned from (a) HM Revenue and Customs and (b) the Office of Budget Responsibility a behavioural analysis of the potential effects of his proposed changes to stamp duty.

Chloe Smith: The policy costings for the changes to stamp duty land tax included behavioural analysis. Details of the behavioural effects considered are available in the published policy costing note (pages 21-23)
	http://cdn.hm-treasury.gov.uk/budget2012_policy_costings.pdf
	The policy costing was undertaken by HM Revenue and Customs. The policy costing and its underlying methodology were certified by the Office for Budget Responsibility as representing a reasonable and central view given the information currently available.

Taxation: Bingo

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from the bingo industry on the relationship between bingo gross profits tax and total tax receipts from the gaming sector.

Chloe Smith: Treasury Ministers and officials meet with, and receive representations from, a wide range of organisations and individuals in the public and private sectors as part of the usual policymaking process. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such representations.

Taxation: Gambling

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to bring forward (a) consultation and (b) legislation on a place of consumption-based taxation regime for remote gambling.

Chloe Smith: The written ministerial statement of 27 March 2012, Official Report, columns 106-107WS, provides a list of planned Treasury consultations and estimated dates of publication:
	http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201212/cmhansrd/cmallfiles/mps/commons_hansard_4777_wad.html
	A 'place of consumption'-based taxation regime for remote gambling will be legislated in a future Finance Bill.

Tonnage Tax

John McDonnell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total value of concessions given by (a) Inland Revenue and (b) HM Revenue and Customs to shipping companies in respect of the tonnage tax scheme was in each year since 2000-01. [R]

Chloe Smith: The following table provides estimates of the difference between accruals of tax liabilities for the UK shipping industry through tonnage tax and what they would otherwise have been under standard UK corporation tax since 2005.
	
		
			 Calendar year Reduction in tax liabilities (£ million) 
			 2005 55 
			 2006 50 
			 2007 70 
			 2008 135 
			 2009 45 
		
	
	Estimates are not yet available for 2010, as records may be incomplete due some tax returns not yet being submitted. Estimates are not available before 2005 due to insufficient data.

Vodafone Group

Jon Trickett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many contracts Vodafone has been awarded by his Department in the last 12 months;
	(2)  what contracts his Department has with Vodafone.

Chloe Smith: HM Treasury has one contract with Vodafone Corporate Ltd. This is for mobile telephony services. In April 2011, this contract was extended to April 2015.

Vodafone Group

Jon Trickett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many times the permanent secretary in his Department has met Vodafone representatives in the last 12 months.

Chloe Smith: The permanent secretary has not met any representative of Vodafone during the last 12 months.

Work Experience

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 3 May 2011, Official Report, column 680W, on departmental work experience, how many people (a) worked as an intern, (b) undertook a work experience placement and (c) worked as a volunteer in his Department in accordance with the hiring criteria set out in that answer in the last 12 months for which data are available; and how many such people were employed other than according to those criteria.

Chloe Smith: The Treasury participates in the two week Civil Service Whitehall Internship Programme which was announced through the Social Mobility Strategy in April 2011. This programme provides Year 12 College level students with an opportunity to undertake a two week work experience placement in a Government Department. The programme is designed to increase professional experience and workplace skills and is aimed at students from under-represented backgrounds. Treasury offered two internships on this programme in 2011 and will offer a similar number of placements for the 2012 intake.
	The Treasury also offers internships to graduates and undergraduates through the Summer Diversity Internship Programme (SDIP). The programme is aimed at black and minority ethnic university students and those from lower socio-economic groups and seeks to provide talented candidates with 6-9 week training placements in government departments. The Treasury offered three internships across the Department in 2011.
	There is no central record of unpaid placements which are occasionally arranged on an ad-hoc basis.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Access to Work Programme: Birmingham

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what funding from the Access to Work Scheme has gone to support people in Birmingham, Ladywood constituency in each of the last five years.

Maria Miller: Information on Access to Work spend is only available from 1 April 2007 onwards and is currently only available up to 31 March 2011.
	The following table shows the Access to Work spend in Birmingham, Ladywood constituency in each of the last four full financial years(1):
	(1) Source:
	Access to Work database. Amounts are rounded to the nearest £1,000.
	
		
			 Financial year Access to work spend (£) 
			 2007-08 72,000 
			 2008-09 98,000 
			 2009-10 130,000 
			 2010-11 130,000

Atos Healthcare

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will undertake a value for money and efficiency audit of the work that Atos carries out for his Department.

Chris Grayling: DWP Contract Management process ensures regular review of performance and value for money considerations. This activity is undertaken across all our suppliers as a matter of course.

Care Homes: Disability

Anne McGuire: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what discussions his Department has had with (a) the Department for Communities and Local Government and (b) local authority representatives on estimating any increases in residential care costs which may arise from increased use of publicly-funded care homes as a result of reductions in the level of benefit paid to disabled people.

Maria Miller: There have been extensive discussions with the Department for Communities and Local Government, the Local Government Association and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities about a range of issues.
	Personal independence payment will support those disabled people who face the greatest challenges in living an independent life.
	Such support could well reduce the likelihood of individuals requiring the services of publicly-funded care homes along with other local authority interventions.

Child Benefit

Susan Elan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether it is his policy that a woman with a child under 12 who no longer receives child benefit due to household earnings will also have linked national insurance payments removed.

Steve Webb: The proposal announced in the Budget to apply an income tax charge on families in receipt of child benefit where someone has an income of more than £50,000 will not affect national insurance credits for state pension entitlement.

Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to Figure 14 of the report by the National Audit Office on Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission: Costs Reduction, HC 1793, what assumptions the Commission made on the level of (a) the application charge, (b) charges for enforcement, (c) collection deductions levied on parents with care and (d) collection surcharges levied on non-resident parents when estimating future fee income.

Maria Miller: Figure 14 of the report by the National Audit Office shows estimates based on illustrative assumptions about charging levels made at that time. These were as follows:
	a £20 application fee with an exemption for victims of domestic violence;
	collection charges of 10% for the parent with care and 20% for the non-resident parent; and
	enforcement charges ranging from £50 to £600.
	These assumptions reflected the ranges set out in the Green Paper "Strengthening families, promoting parental responsibility: the future of child maintenance". Only the application fee is finalised at this point in time; the Government are still considering the precise levels of the other charges and detailed proposals will be brought forward later in the year when we consult on the charging and case closure regulations.

Children: Maintenance

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to his proposal to reduce the application charge for use of the future statutory child maintenance scheme to £20 for all applicants, whether he has any plans to review the level of the future calculation only charge.

Maria Miller: With the application fee for the full child maintenance service now set at £20, with no fee payable by victims of domestic violence, Ministers have decided that a separate calculation only service is no longer necessary. Applicants will be able to either use the online calculator or make an application to the full service.

Departmental Pay

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many officials in his Department received a bonus in each year since 2007.

Chris Grayling: Currently 50% of DWP employees earn £21,000 or less. 88% of staff in DWP's three lowest grades earn between £14,400 (national minimum) and £28,100 (the inner London maximum).
	In 2010-11 the average end of year payment across the three lowest grades was £375.
	End of year and in year awards have been used since DWP was formed in 2002 under the previous Government.
	In year cash awards and end of year awards were introduced by the previous Government and have been in place in DWP since its formation in 2002.
	DWP introduced vouchers as an in year award in 2007 under the previous Government.
	The Department operates two pay-related employee reward schemes. They comprise end of year non-consolidated performance payments and in-year non-consolidated performance awards.
	Performance payments and awards are a key element of the Department for Work and Pension's reward strategy; supporting performance improvement, employee engagement and delivery of key business objectives. This is in line with Government policy.
	
		
			 Financial year Total paid (£ million) 
			 End of year non-consolidated performance payments and non-consolidated top up payments  
			 2009-10 (1)47.79 
			 2010-11 (1)48.68 
			   
			 In year non-consolidated performance payments(2)—Cash  
			 2009-10 3.05 
			 2010-11 2.41 
			   
			 Vouchers(3)  
			 2009-10 2.24 
			 2010-11 2.28 
			 (1) The size of the non-consolidated monies for performance related pay remained the same for both years. In 2009-10 a proportion of the monies were used as non-consolidated payments to base salary. Treasury guidance in 2010-11 stipulated that all of the monies were to be used as non-consolidated performance payments. (2) Cash or retail vouchers can be provided as one-off recognition awards, payable at any time during the performance year to recognise exceptional achievements. (3) Net value paid to DWP staff. 
		
	
	
		
			 End of year performance payments 
			  Number of recipients Number of employees 
			 2006-07 116,096 118,183 
			 2007-08 111,943 114,974 
			 2008-09 107,726 115,352 
			 2009-10 109,334 115,961 
			 2010-11 113,607 116,876 
			 Note: Average payment across DWP for 2010-11 was £428 
		
	
	
		
			 In year performance payments—Cash 
			  Number of recipients Number of employees Average value (£) 
			 2007-08(1) 11,250 114,974 240 
			 2008-09 14,612 115,352 208 
		
	
	
		
			 2009-10 17,945 115,961 170 
			 2010-11 15,686 116,876 154 
			 (1)In year performance award information only available from 2007-08. 
		
	
	
		
			 In year performance payments—Vouchers 
			  Number of vouchers (2) Voucher value 
			 2007-08(1) 31,237 Between £25 and £50 
			 2008-09 47,141 Between £25 and £50 
			 2009-10 62,001 Between £25 and £50 
			 2010-11 66,696 Between £25 and £50 
			 (1) In year performance award information only available from 2007-08. (2) Number of vouchers issued does not correspond to number of staff receiving them. Number of staff in receipt is not necessarily recorded. The number of vouchers figure is the number DWP received from our provider.

Disability Living Allowance

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of disability living allowance applications in (a) the year prior to and (b) the year following Atos Healthcare being awarded the BPO Medical Services Contract were approved (i) initially and (ii) following appeal.

Maria Miller: The Medical Service Agreement with Atos commenced on 15 March 2005.
	The information requested is in the following table:
	
		
			 Disability living allowance 
			 % 
			  New claim awards Appeals successful 
			 April 2004 to March 2005 46.8 50.0 
			 April 2005 to March 2006 46.9 49.4 
			 Source: Department for Work and Pensions RDA60205 and RDA60209 reports—DLA Management Information Statistics.

Disability Living Allowance

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of failed disability living allowance applications in the last year are now subject to appeal.

Maria Miller: The information requested is unavailable because the management information held by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) on appeals does not enable us to distinguish between appeals made following decisions on failed applications and other decisions which may have impacted on a claim and to obtain this would be at disproportionate cost.

Housing Benefit

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many recipients of local housing allowance have had their rate altered to the shared accommodation rate in (a) St Helens South and Whiston constituency, (b) St Helens, (c) Merseyside and (d) England.

Steve Webb: The information is not available.
	The age threshold for the shared accommodation rate was increased from 25 to 35 in January 2012, but will not have taken effect for all claimants until the end of 2012.
	The early impacts of this change will be examined as part of the independent evaluation of reforms to the local housing allowance.
	Estimates of the number of claims likely to be affected at local authority and regional level have been published, and are available on the internet at:
	http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/eia-hb-shared-accommodation-age-threshold.pdf

Pensions

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many households are in receipt of the pension credit guarantee credit.

Steve Webb: The information requested is in the following table:
	
		
			 Household recipients of pension credit guarantee credit 
			  Number 
			 Guarantee credit only 927,740 
			 Guarantee credit and savings credit 1,140,700 
			 Savings credit only 591,350 
			 Total 2,659,820 
			 Notes: 1. Case load figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Household recipients are those people who claim pension credit either for themselves or on behalf of themselves and a partner. 3. These figures are published on the Department's Tabulation Tool at: http://83.244.183.180/100pc/dla/tabtool_dla.html 4. Figures provided are as at August 2011. 5. Totals may not sum due to rounding. Source: DWP Information, Governance and Security Directorate 100% Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study.

Personal Independence Payments

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what role Warbreck House will play in processing personal independence payments;
	(2)  what role Warbreck House will play in the processing of disability living allowance (a) between 2012 and 2016 and (b) after 2016.

Maria Miller: On the 12 March 2012, Official Report, column 10WS, I published a written ministerial statement which detailed the Government's plans regarding the introduction of personal independence payment. Within this statement I also confirmed that Blackpool Benefits Centre (Warbreck House) will undertake personal independence payment reassessment activity for existing disability living allowance claimants aged 16 to 64.
	Processing work currently undertaken by Warbreck House will continue between now and October 2013. Reassessment of existing disability living allowance claimants is due to begin in October 2013 at Warbreck House. We plan to have asked all disability living allowance claimants (aged 16-64) if they want to claim personal independence payment by March 2016.
	We have also announced that Warbreck House will administer attendance allowance. Warbreck House is part of the national DWP Benefits Delivery network and no decisions have been made at this time concerning 2016 and beyond while we focus on the important changeover from disability living allowance to personal independence payment.

Personal Independence Payments: Fylde Coast

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether Personal Independence Payment claims relating to children will be processed on the Fylde Coast.

Maria Miller: On 12 March 2012, Official Report, column 10WS, I published a written ministerial statement which detailed the Government's plans regarding the introduction of personal independence payment. The statement also confirmed that disability living allowance would continue for children under the age of 16 and that those claims would be administered by the network of Benefits Centres which deal with disability benefits claims.
	We do not plan to extend personal independence payment to new or existing claims for children from 2013. The needs of children are very different to those of adults and we want to build on our experience of developing and delivering the assessment for claimants of working age before considering children. We will consult on any substantive changes to the arrangements for children.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Farmers: Loans

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the role of enterprise loans in encouraging young people to become farmers.

Mark Prisk: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
	We know that young people can struggle to access the finance they require to start their own businesses and that is why we have announced at Budget that we will introduce a programme of enterprise loans for young people between the ages of 18 and 24. As a first step, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) will design and run a one-year pilot programme—in 2012-13—to test different ways of delivering enterprise loans.
	Enterprise loans will provide young people who want to start a business with not only a small amount of capital to do so, but also some support in the forms of training and mentoring. We aim to get the scheme up and running and evaluated in time for Budget next year.
	In the meantime, we have already put in place a package of information, advice and support for start-ups and for existing firms, available at:
	www.businesslink.gov.uk
	our online information service for businesses, which we have recently updated and improved. For start-ups, we have a tailored section, called My New Business, which includes a range of online information, training modules, and practical guides.
	In addition, we have facilitated the creation of a new national network of experienced business mentors, available at:
	www.mentorsme.co.uk
	This portal provides access to find over 15,000 experienced business people who want to help mentor those starting out.